FAZ appoints Under-23 men’s team coach

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has appointed Chisi Mbewe as Zambia Under-23 Men’s National Team Coach as part of preparations for the Egypt 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. FAZ General Secretary Charles Chakatazya says Mbewe, who is Coach for Super League side Red…

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has appointed Chisi Mbewe as Zambia Under-23 Men’s National Team Coach as part of preparations for the Egypt 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

FAZ General Secretary Charles Chakatazya says Mbewe, who is Coach for Super League side Red Arrows, will be assisted by Numba Mumamba, George Chilufya and Kalililo Kakonje as first assistant, second assistant and goalkeeper coaches respectively.

Mbewe was Head Coach for the Under-20 squad that qualified for the Under-20 AFCON in Egypt in 2023.

This is according to a statement issued to the madia by FAZ Head of Media and Communication, Nkweto Tembwe.

The rest of the bench has 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winning Vice-Captain, Chintu Kampamba as physical trainer, Mumba Mwila as Team Manager, while Ndaba Sipuke is the Team Doctor.

Others are Nimrod Musongwa as physiotherapist, Luka Kaunda as Video Analyst, Nchimunya Mwila for Team Security and 2009 CHAN golden boot winner Given Singuluma as Equipment Manager.

Chakatazya said the bench has the long-term target of qualifying to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

“The appointments have been made after a rigorous exercise that saw FAZ pick some of the best local coaching talents. Mbewe has been part of the Zambian youth system for some time, having served as U15 and U20 coach over the years and knows his way around the current generation of players,” he says.

Chakatazya further explained that Mbewe will be assisted by an equally competent ensemble of local coaches tasked to firstly qualify to the U23 AFCON and subsequently the Olympics in 2028.

He added that Zambia have been handed a second-round tie against either Sierra Leone or Burkina Faso in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Chakatazya also indicated that Mbewe’s charges will enter the competition at the second-round stage, with the first leg scheduled for 9 November 2026 and the return leg to be played eight days later.

He said the last U23 AFCON qualification came in 2019 in Egypt under Beston Chambeshi, which ended in a first round exit.